Mokobi lands COSBOTS top post

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday January 20, 2011 00:00

 

COSBOTS, which has received a grant from the Ministry of Trade and Industry to kick-start its operations, has been set up for the purposes of collecting and distributing royalties to musicians and all other artists. All categories of works are part of the society, be it music, art, publishing, painting, drama, film, poetry, writers and others. It is a non-profit making company by guarantee.

The main functions include to negotiate and grant licences in written agreement with the owners of copyright for the adaptation of works, performances and sound recordings. It is also aimed at setting rates for royalties, and collection and distribution of royalties.

COSBOTS will also represent the owners of copyright in the various categories of works protected under the Act. It will also put in place rules and regulations to ensure protection of the interests of its members. Speaking in an interview, Mokobi said he was still setting up the COSBOTS secretariat. The organisation has just advertised some key posts. He said they would soon be holding interviews. 'By next week we will be finished with the interviews,' he said.

The posts that were advertised included those of licencing manager, programmes, registration manager and communications manager. He said once they were established, they would do the licencing. This entails licencing organisations to use copyright material.

Mokobi said they were also going to register copyright holders. He said they would have to establish who is the copyright holder so that they could pay the appropriate individual. He pointed out that they would be dealing with an array of artists' products, which they have to monitor.

Mokobi thinks that by March everything should be in place and media houses would be expected to start paying royalties within three months. If all goes according to plan, his wish is that within six months of operation they would start paying artists. Despite the fact that he would be walking into an unknown terrain, Mokobi said he was delighted at his appointment.

'I am very excited. We are entering a totally new area. It is going to assist in terms of economic diversification.

Musicians were struggling without being paid royalties. This is a time that they should be rewarded. We are throwing a lifeline to the creative industry,' he said. He added: 'It will be a refreshing undertaking in that having made my mark in the advertising, marketing and communication fields, it is the right time to establish this important organsation so as to aptly reward the creative industry.'

However, Mokobi is well aware that it is not going to be easy. He is fully aware of the challenges lying ahead.'For anything that has never been done before it is a challenge. I believe as Batswana we have what it takes to make things happen,' he said with confidence.

Mokobi is also counting on assistance from collecting societies in other countries. They have already started talking to some of them. He said even the collecting societies in other countries are excited that Botswana is getting on board. But Mokobi said they were going to fine-tune their organisation to meet the local situation.

For Mokobi, this is an appropriate lateral move from the advertising, marketing and communication industry in which he had established himself as a leader and developed a reputable career. In addition to being the chairman of the Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) media sector, Mokobi has extensive corporate experience with numerous other large advertising agencies in the country.

COSBOTS chairman, Solomon Monyame, was elated at Mokobi's appointment, stating that they had undertaken a stringent screening process that included psychometric tests to determine the best candidate. He added that competition was 'really tight' for the top position. Monyame welcomed the selection of Mokobi because of his extensive background in the creative industry and is looking forward to working with him in his professional and business capacity to take COSBOTS off the ground.

'We, the board, have introduced Mokobi to the Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property and discussed very clearly his mandate and our expectations, and have faith in him to deliver, and therefore guaranteed our support to ensure he succeeds in this crucial role,' Monyame said.